Utility light for the illumination of an interior of a computer case

ABSTRACT

A utility light for the illumination of the interior of the case of a CPU of a personal computer includes a bracket having the general geometry of an expansion slot cover bracket; batteries inclusive of a housing secured to one surface of the bracket; a flexible lamp neck having one end extending from the battery housing and in electrical communication with the batteries; a lamp in electrical communication with an opposite end of the lamp neck; and a switch in electrical communication with said batteries.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] (a) Subject Area

[0002] The instant invention relates to means for the illumination ofthe interior of the case of a personal computer.

[0003] (b) Prior Art

[0004] As is well known to computer technicians as well as amateurs andothers who undertake work upon the inside of their computer, alongstanding problem has been that of provision of sufficient lightwhile working within the computer to sufficiently observe the componentsor area of interest. That is, while many small hand held lights areavailable, it, at present, is necessary to use one hand, or to haveanother person, hold a light while checking or working within the caseof the computer. The invention address this long felt need in the art byproviding a convenient and compact means predicated upon the existingstructure and volume of the case of the CPU of a personal computer suchthat a light assembly is maintained as either a permanent or removablepart of the interior of the computer case.

[0005] The inventors know of no prior art which utilizes an existingmechanical structure of the case of a computer base for securement ofsuch a utility light.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] A utility light for the illumination of the interior of the caseof a CPU of a personal computer includes a bracket having the generalgeometry of an expansion slot cover bracket; battery means inclusive ofa housing therefore secured to one surface of the bracket; a flexiblelamp neck having one end extending from said battery housing and inelectrical communication with said battery means; a lamp in electricalcommunication with an opposite end of the lamp neck; and a switch inelectrical communication with said battery means.

[0007] The invention may also be expressed in terms of a method forproviding illumination to the inside of a computer during periods ofwork upon the hardware thereof. This method includes the steps ofremoving a substantially planar expansion slot cover bracket from acomplemental void space within a wall of the interior of the case of aCPU of the computer; and inserting into said space the combination oflamp means having, as a base thereof, a second and like bracket having asurface complemental to said void space of said computer wall.

[0008] It is accordingly an object of the present invention to providean improved means for the illumination of the interior of a case orcover of the CPU of a personal computer.

[0009] It is another object to provide a utility light, formed of asmall number of components, to provide to technicians and the likeworking within a computer with illumination means which do not requirethe use of either hand of the technician.

[0010] It is a further object of the invention to provide a method anddevice of the above type which is inexpensive, lightweight, easy toinstall, simple to use, and which utilizes a portion of the existinginternal volume of the case of a personal computer.

[0011] The above and yet other objects and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the hereinafter set forth BriefDescription of the Drawings, detailed description of the invention andClaims appended herewith.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of the inside of a tower-typepersonal computer after the case thereof has been removed, and showingthe insertion of an expansion integrated circuit card into amotherboard.

[0013]FIG. 2 s a perspective view showing the securement of theexpansion card by an expansion slot cover (ESC) bracket.

[0014]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ESC bracket as it appears uponremoval from the computer.

[0015]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the inventive illumination device.

[0016]FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the device of FIG. 4.

[0017]FIG. 6 is a radial cross-sectional view taken through Line 6-6 ofFIG. 5.

[0018]FIG. 7 is a side plan view of the inventive device of FIG. 4.

[0019]FIG. 8 is a reverse side plan view thereof.

[0020]FIG. 9 is a perspective view, similar to that of FIG. 2, however,showing insertion of an ESC configured bracket including the inventivedevice in the ESC void space.

[0021]FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the inventive device afterinsertion into the ESC void space of the inside of the case of thepersonal computer.

[0022]FIG. 11 is a side view, similar to that of FIG. 8, showing theexternal appearance of the inventive device after insertion has beenaccomplished in the manner shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] With reference to the perspective views of FIGS. 1 and 2, thereis shown the inside of the CPU of a tower-type personal computer afterthe cover thereof has been removed, this with reference to an arbitraryxyz coordinate axis in which the x-axis represents the left to rightdirection of the CPU, the y-axis the front to back direction, and thez-axis, the vertical direction or gravity vector.

[0024] There is more particularly shown in FIG. 1 a CPU mother board 10having a plurality of horizontal expansion slots 12 into which aselectable integrated circuit (“IC”) card 14 (in the nature of a musicvideo or modem card) may be inserted. However, to provide necessarymechanical support to the IC expansion card 14, one must connect theleft edge 15 thereof to a bracket 16 having the generalized geometry ofan expansion slot cover (ESC) bracket in the manner shown in FIG. 2. Asmay be noted in the views of FIGS. 1 and 2, a personal computer istypically provided with additional ESC brackets 18 and 20 in addition tosaid bracket 16, this to provide for the addition of further ICexpansion boards 14 to the CPU mother board 10, should one wish.Accordingly, a tower type computer, when newly purchased, will haveeither three or four ESC brackets along the x-axis side of the computerwhich brackets have a y-axis directionality and occupy a yz plane, thiswith the exception of transverse xz surface 21, at the −y end of thebracket. Thereby, said brackets are selectably used as mechanicalsupport for a side of expansion cards such as said card 14.

[0025] As may be noted in FIG. 2, transverse surfaces 15 of said ESCbrackets are secured to an xz surface 22 of the −x side of the inside ofthe computer by screw 24.

[0026] With reference to the perspective view of FIG. 3 which shows ESCbracket 18 detached from the left inside surface 30 of the computer, asecond end thereof may be seen to define a tapered end 26, the functionof which is to fit into a complemental slot 28 (see FIG. 2) within saidyz surface 30 within which said ESC brackets or equivalents 16/18/20 arenormally secured. Recessed region 31 of each bracket may be complementalto void space 46 (described below) of said surface 30. It however is tobe understood that recessed region 31 is not an essential part of theESC type bracket for purposes of this invention.

[0027] With reference to the perspective view of FIG. 4 and top planview of FIG. 5, the inventive device may be seen to include thecombination of an ESC bracket 118 (or geometric equivalent thereof) anda battery pack 32 which is affixed adhered to a lower surface 34 thereofand generally within said recessed region 31. Upon opposite bracketsurface 36 is disposed an on-off battery switch 38. Accordingly, anopening of appropriate size must be machined or molded through thesurfaces 34/36 of said bracket 118 to accommodate said switch.Mechanically and electrically dependent from the rear −y end of batterypack 32 is a flexible shaft 40 having a length of up to 24 inches at theend of which is a lamp 42 surrounded by a heat shield 44. The structureof the lamp may be further appreciated with reference to the radialcross-sectional view of FIG. 6, and the x-axis front and rear side viewsof FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0028] While the present invention is intended as a self-contained art,the batteries of said battery pack may nonetheless be re-chargeable froma power supply of the computer if so provided by the computermanufacturer.

[0029] The manner of usage of the device of FIGS. 4 to 8 is shown inFIGS. 9 and 10. More particularly, in FIG. 9 is shown the insertion oftapered end 26 of bracket 118 into void space 46 (see also FIG. 2) thatis created by the removal of the original or installation ESC bracket 18therefrom. Accordingly, said bracket 118, inclusive of its integralbattery pack 32, is slid forward in the +y direction until it hasreached complemental slot 28 of wall 30. The device, when fullyinstalled within said void space, is shown in FIG. 10. It is therefromto be appreciated that, after installation of the present batterypowered lamp assembly, which has been integrated into bracket 118, andits securement within said void space 46 by the re-insertion andsecurement of screw 24 against bracket surface 21, the computer (when acover thereof is removed) is provided with an internal light which, bythe actuation of switch 38 (see FIG. 11), is accessible from an outside−x sidewall 50 of the computer, to provide essential illumination to PCowners and technicians working upon the inside of a computer.

[0030] It is to be appreciated that in other models or a PC structurethan that shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 10, all inside components willtypically be rotated by 90 degrees about the y-axis, such that expansioncards 14 are vertical and the planes of surfaces 34/36 of the ESC typebrackets are horizontal. However, in all other respects, the use of thedevice shown in FIGS. 4 to 8 is the same in either type of computer.

[0031] Further, in the preferred embodiment, the length of flexible neck40 will be in a range of 12 to 24 inches long. It may, thereby, beappreciated that a lamp having a flexible neck or considerable lengthmay typically be stored within space available inside of most personalcomputers.

[0032] While there has been shown and described the preferred embodimentof the instant invention it is to be appreciated that the invention maybe embodied otherwise than is herein specifically shown and describedand that, within said embodiment, certain changes may be made in theform and arrangement of the parts without departing from the underlyingideas or principles of this invention as set forth in the Claimsappended herewith.

We claim:
 1. A method of providing illumination to the inside of acomputer during periods of work with the hardware thereof, the methodcomprising the steps of: (a) removing a substantially planar coverbracket from a complemental void space within a wall of the interior ofa CPU of a computer; and (b) inserting into said space the combinationof lamp means having, as a base thereof, a second and substantially likebracket having a surface substantially complemental to said void spaceof said computer wall.
 2. The method as recited in claim 1, furthercomprising the step of: (c) providing connection means at a transverseouter end of said second bracket for securement thereof to said wall ofsaid computer.
 3. The method as recited in claim 2, in which an oppositeand inner end of said second bracket comprises a tapered end.
 4. Themethod as recited in claim 1, in which at least one of saidsubstantially planar bracket and said second bracket comprise anexpansion slot cover (ESC) bracket.
 5. The method as recited in claim 2,in which at least one of said substantially planar bracket and saidsecond bracket comprise an expansion slot cover (ESC) bracket.
 6. Themethod as recited in claim 1, in which said lamp means includes powermeans therefor.
 7. The method as recited in claim 6, in which said powermeans comprises: batteries re-chargeable from a power supply of saidcomputer.
 8. The method as recited in claim 6, further comprising thestep of: providing an on-off switch for said power means, manuallyaccessible from an external surface of said computer.
 9. The method asrecited in claim
 4. in which said lamp means includes power meanstherefor.
 10. The method as recited in claim 9, in which said powermeans comprises batteries re-chargeable from a power supply of saidcomputer.
 11. The method as recited in claim
 9. further comprising thestep of: providing an on-off switch for said power means, manuallyaccessible from an external surface of said computer.
 12. The method asrecited in claim 9, in which said lamp means include a flexible neckbetween said power means and a bulb of said lamp means.
 13. A device forthe illumination of an interior of a case of a computer, comprising: (a)a bracket having the general geometry of an ESC bracket; (b) power meansand a housing thereof secured to at least one surface of said bracket;(c) a flexible lamp neck having one end thereof dependent from saidhousing of said power means and in electrical communication with saidpower means; (d) lamp in electrical communication with an opposite endof said lamp neck; and (e) switch means in electrical communication withsaid power means.